Chicago, IL

Evanston closes Greenwood Street Beach for the summer due to shortage of lifeguards

Published

2 years ago

June 22, 2022

Evanston closes Greenwood Street Beach for the summer due to shortage of lifeguards

EVANSTON, Unwell. (WLS) — The town of Evanston, in an effort to maintain the remainder of its swimming-friendly lakefront open, closed Greenwood Road Seaside amid a important scarcity of lifeguards.

On the longest day of the yr, with a few of the hottest temperatures in years, the long-lasting lakefront in Chicago and its suburbs remains to be with out sufficient lifeguards.

“There must be another incentives by the town of Chicago, metropolis of Evanston, simply to up the ante just a little bit and make it extra palatable for youngsters,” stated Chris Tirres.

The empty lifeguard stands are one more unintended consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is a scarcity of total of individuals working,” stated Audrey Thompson, director of the Parks and Recreation Division for the town of Evanston. “It is not simply on the lakefront.”

And it isn’t simply right here. The American Lifeguard Affiliation stated the nationwide, important scarcity of lifeguards has compelled seashore and lakefront cities like Chicago and Evanston to make powerful choices.

“We simply wish to be sure that all of our residents are secure,” stated Thompson. “If meaning closing a seashore, meaning closing the seashore.”

A number of would-be swimmers have been turned away from Greenwood Road Seaside Monday after the town introduced it could stay closed for the remainder of the summer time.

“We needed to be sure that now we have sufficient lifeguards on the extra populated seashores, simply to make sure security,” Thompson stated.

The town stated Greenwood remains to be open for different water leisure sports activities.

“It is form of an incredible factor for sailors and folk who’ve water craft,” Tirres stated.

“It is a disgrace; it makes it tough for folks to have the ability to get pleasure from our beautiful lakefront,” stated Marella Landis.

The American lifeguard Affiliation estimates the lifeguard shortages impacts one third of U.S. swimming swimming pools, and that quantity is anticipated to develop to half of all public swimming pools nationwide by August, when many teenage lifeguards return to highschool.

The Chicago Park District has pushed again opening public swimming pools from June 24 to July 5.

Public well being consultants are involved that much less lifeguards this summer time will enhance danger of great accidents or drownings, making the decision for licensed lifeguards extra essential than ever.

Click to comment

Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.